IN a city as dry as Tamworth, recycling wastewater in to drinking water is a "no-brainer", a local councillor says.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mark Rodda says he's lost count of the times he's been asked by a member of the community why the city doesn't purify its wastewater.
So at Tuesday night's council meeting, Cr Rodda will ask council staff to prepare a report in to the viability and cost of recycling the water at the Westdale Waste Water Treatment Plant in to "potable purified water for use in the reticulated water supply".
"The wastewater unit on Wallamore Road could co-locate a facility to purify the water, which could go straight back in to our own water supply," Cr Rodda said.
"Cities like London have been doing it for years. If a city of many of millions can do it, why not do the same here? Particularly given the water issues we've got.
"It's a real no-brainer in a continent as dry as ours."
Cr Rodda said a water recycling facility would be a great short-term solution to local water woes, and it wouldn't come with the same "baggage" as a dam.
"We could avoid the endless stream of studies - environmental, downstream impacts, the lot - that have to be done when you build a new dam," he said.
"The technology is already there, and it would not nearly be as costly as a dam.
"I would have to think recycling water is far cheaper than the proposal to upgrade Dungowan Dam, which is sitting at close to half a billion dollars."
MORE WATER PRESSURE STORIES
Cr Rodda said with the number of people employed by large water users such as the abattoirs and Baiada, it was important to investigate recycling water as an option.
"We should be going down this path to make this place more appealing to businesses, to make Tamworth a place that has a water supply that won't run out," he said.
"The last thing we want is for one of these businesses to leave, or not expand, because of a lack of water.
"Whatever the price is, it'll be a small price to pay for business confidence."